Seven months after its announcement at WWDC23, Apple started accepting preorders for its Vision Pro headset Friday morning — and quickly sold out. Shipping dates for the company’s first AR headset slipped within minutes of preorders opening.
The preorder also answered some questions about the Vision Pro. Plus, if you want one, you still have a chance to get one. The $3,499 mixed-reality headset — which Apple hails as the dawn of “spatial computing” — goes on sale February 2 in Apple retail stores in the United States.
Vision Pro marks Apple’s entry into a new product category
The Vision Pro is Apple’s first major product in a new category in nearly a decade. It aims to bring spatial computing, virtual reality and augmented reality experiences to the masses. Apple recently pitched the AR headset as the “ultimate entertainment device.” The headset sports dual high-resolution micro-OLED displays that deliver a combined “23 million pixels with wide color, high dynamic range, and Dolby Vision,” the company said. Early demo participants rave about the visuals (if not the headset’s weight).
Apple reportedly does not expect to sell many Vision Pro headsets in the first year, though. The hefty price tag and limited availability make the headset out of reach for many. TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks Apple produced only 60,000 to 80,000 of the headsets for the launch.
If Apple actually sold 80,000 Vision Pros during the preorder, that would equal nearly $300,000,000 in revenue!
Apple did sell out of the original 80K batch within the first 15 minutes. All orders now are for March!
VR is saved. https://t.co/SkLp1TuTFs
— Nima Zeighami (@NimaZeighami) January 19, 2024
Vision Pro ship dates slip fast
For some customers, ship dates slipped into early March within 15 minutes of pre-orders going live. However, it appeared that some of those orders may have been available for pickup at local stores, either on February 2, or that weekend. It’s not clear why there was a discrepancy: Apple may be holding back supplies for launch day.
A similar situation occurred with the launch of the iPhone 15 last fall. The iPhone 15 quickly sold out initial pre-orders online, but was available in limited quantities for shoppers who turned out on launch day.
The same is likely to happen for the Vision Pro. Apple is likely to have some available on February 2 — official launch day — but it’s unclear how many. Supply will probably be limited. And if this morning’s preorders are any indication, Apple retail stores will likely be mobbed.
Vision Pro storage options and accessories
When preorders went live Friday, several lingering questions about Vision Pro were answered.
Chief among them: storage options. Apple offers the Vision Pro in three storage options: 256GB for $3,499, 512GB ($3,699) and 1TB ($3,899).
As for Vision Pro accessories, Apple is selling a travel case and a spare battery pack. They cost $199 each.
Apple also updated the Vision Pro tech specs page with some new info:
- For video mirroring, the headset allows “up to 1080p AirPlay for mirroring your view in Apple Vision Pro to any AirPlay‑enabled device, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV (2nd generation or later), or AirPlay‑enabled smart TV.”
- The new Apple R1 chip, which handles the headset’s array of sensors, delivers “12‑millisecond photon‑to‑photon latency,” with “256GB/s memory bandwidth.”
- The Vision Pro comes with a “Stereoscopic 3D main camera system” capable of spatial photo and video capture. More camera specs: 18 mm, ƒ/2.00 aperture, 6.5 stereo megapixels.
The Vision Pro will launch on February 2, which will also mark the debut of the visionOS App Store. Apple claims the store will have more than 1 million compatible apps available at launch.
iPhone or iPad with Face ID required for preorder
If you still want to preorder Vision Pro, you must have an iPhone or iPad with Face ID. You will use this to scan your face for a custom fit of the Light Seal and headbands. Make sure to update the Apple Store app to the latest release.
If you wear glasses, you can add $99 reader lens or $149 Zeiss prescription lens inserts. A free engraving option, which Apple says won’t slow your order, will help in case you keep things straight if you have a family with multiple prescription inserts.
After placing your order for the custom lenses, you must upload a valid prescription. Note: Apple says eyeglass prescriptions with prism values cannot be accommodated at this time.
Buy from: Apple
